The Ultimate Essential Oils Guide for Labor & Postpartum

I got into using essential oils routinely during my second pregnancy which meant I did a lot of research on what I could do to prep for labor, during labor, and for postpartum support. I used different oils topically and aromatically (ie. diffusing) to help me both physically and mentally.

Here is a breakdown of what I found from different resources, including books written by doctors and midwives. I will note what I actually used and will update any changes after baby #3 comes in a few short months!

Labor Prep

Perineum Massage

There is strong scientific evidence now that indicates that doing this regularly the last 3-4 weeks of pregnancy decreases your chance of tearing and/or needing an episiotomy. 

Mix one drop of Geranium and a few drops of fractionated coconut oil in your hands. Apply to perineum and massage daily after 37 weeks.

Labor Support

Diffusing 

Yes, I brought my diffuser to the delivery room (double check that your hospital allows them) and I will say, the doctors and nurses all LOVED it! The room smelled amazing and I switched up the combos every few hours as the water ran out. 

Below were the most recommended combinations I found for labor. I was induced late with both babies so far so I didn’t go through the stages of labor naturally, but I used some combo of the below oils throughout the day. After the baby was born I diffused Balance and/or Serenity the next day in my room too. 

Blends to Diffuse

• Balance & Serenity in the beginning
• Wild Orange & Serenity for transition
• Wild Orange & Peppermint for pushing 

Nausea & Fatigue

Throughout contractions, I started to get a little nauseous (and your girl was hungry – the popsicles weren’t cutting it!) so I used my peppermint roller to help. It made me feel much better! 

Peppermint Roller 

• Use a peppermint roller behind your ears and on your temples to help with energy and nausea. Or put a drop of peppermint oil (or roll your roller) in the palm of your hand and just breathe it in through your nose.

Perineum Support (aka Pushing)

Lucky for me, my labor and delivery nurse was into essential oils. She told me she’d spray my little perineum support concoction during pushing. I think she did it a couple times (can’t fully remember), but what I do remember was what the doctor did. She told me they typically use baby shampoo to deliver babies (who knew?!). As in, they dump it on their hands when they are helping guide the baby out of the birth canal. My doctor, who is definitely not into essential oils, saw I had some sort of spray bottle and asked if I wanted her to use it instead of the baby shampoo. I said yes and she poured half the bottle on her hands to deliver the baby. I pushed twice (not how my first delivery went, but those are both stories for another post) and out he came! She then declared he was the best smelling baby she had ever delivered, ha!

Perineum Support Push Spray

• 10 drops Helichrysum
• 10 drops Frankincense
• Fill with Fractionated Coconut Oil in a 30mL spray bottle
• Good for when baby is crowning 

Postpartum Support

Oh the lovely land of postpartum recovery. Below are some things I used to help speed up the healing process and make myself more comfortable.

Peri-Spray 

Use this every time you go to the bathroom. It will help with the healing process, makes you feel fresh, and is soothing. 

• 20 drops Lavender
• 20 drops Geranium
• 20 drops Helichrysum 
• 20 drops Frankincense
• Fill with Witch Hazel (Thayer’s Rose Petal Witch Hazel) in a 4oz spray bottle

Uterine Cramping

Your uterus contracts after you give birth to start the process of going back down to it’s normal size. These vary in pain and frequency with each person and each pregnancy, but the Clary Calm roller is perfect for this type of menstrual-like pain. A lot of times the hormone surge from your baby latching on while nursing will cause your uterus to contract so I would use this roller often prior to nursing.

• Use the Clary Calm roller across your abdomen as needed (before nursing if you have a lot of cramping then). 

Padsicles 

Make these in advance and put them in your freezer. I made these using the thin pads because at the beginning you can put it on top of the thicker diaper-like ones the hospital gives you until the bleeding slows down. Glamorous, I know.

To make them, open the pads up, spread aloe vera on them, then witch hazel (Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel), and a few sprays of the peri-spray above. Then fold them back up and stick them in your freezer in a freezer bag. They are extremely soothing. You’ll thank yourself later.

Sitz Baths

This is something I did not do once after my first baby and did what I thought was a lot after my second (maybe 5 times) until I found out otherwise from my doctor at my postpartum check-up. Little did I know that sitz baths help significantly speed up the healing process and help dissolve any stitches you may have from pushing that precious baby out (ouch!). Now that I know this, I will be sneaking away to do more of them after baby #3 comes. 

• 1/4 cup Epsom Salt
• 2 tablespoons Witch Hazel
• 5 drops Melaleuca (Tea Tree Oil)
• 4 drops Frankincense
• 4 drops Lavender

Make a warm bath 2-3 inches deep. Add all of the ingredients above and swirl around. Sit in the bath for 15-20 minutes. These ingredients have antibacterial properties, help treat wounds, and reduce inflammation.

Nursing Support

Milk Supply

To increase your milk supply you can try one of the following. Once your supply increases you can stop and use as needed.

Vegetable Capsule

• 2 drops Fennel & 2 drops Basil in a veggie capsule 2x a day (Doterra sells empty veggie capsules)

Milk Roller

• 5-10 drops Basil
• 5-10 drops Fennel
• Fill with Fractionated Coconut Oil in a 5mL roller
• Apply around breasts in circular motion (avoiding nipple) and into armpits 2-3x per day

Cracked/Sore Nipples

I have tried all of the nursing creams/ointments, including prescription ones because of how bad it got with my first son, along with the cooling gel pads. The quickest healing ointment I found was Doterra’s Correct-X which is a natural neosporin-like ointment with several essential oils in it.

Another option I found was this roller:

• 5 drops Lavender
• 5 drops Geranium
• Fill with Fractionated Coconut Oil in a 5mL roller

Mastitis 

I got mastitis after my first son was born and luckily after a day of feeling like death with a fever, achy muscles, and cold sweats, he was able to draw the milk out of the clogged duct. You are told to position your baby’s mouth diagonal from the clogged duct while nursing to see if they can draw the milk out on their own. 

With my second son, I felt it coming on and started feeling very achy and feverish one night. I saw the hard red spot (ie. the clogged duct) on one side and immediately started massaging Lavender all over that breast. By the next day, the red spot was gone. 

Options to help with Mastitis:

• Apply a Lavender roller on each infected breast throughout the day
• Apply a roller with 10 drops Melaleuca, Lavender, Roman Chamomile, and 2 Tbsp Fractionated Coconut Oil on each infected breast throughout the day
• Massage the oil from armpits towards nipples 

Hope this guide is helpful! Let me know if you have any questions or need recommendations on natural ways to help with labor or postpartum recovery! 

Xo,
Hillary